Voters at Episcopal church of the Ascension in Sierra Madre. City of Sierra Madre general municipal election where voters would decide on city council member, city treasurer, city clerk and Utility User’s tax measure Tuesday, April 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News)

“We’re moving full steam ahead,” said Giannone about hiring and recruiting new officers.

Giannone said it would take until August to train enough officers to fill out the police department to its previous staffing levels. But despite the reduced force, Giannone said he would see the effect of having even training officers out on the street as a positive for the city.

Opponents of the UUT measure preferred that the city save money by allowing the city police force to be reduced and bringing in a full-time patrol of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies. One of the sheriff’s contract proposals could have saved about $800,000 on the high end, according to the city.

In February, Barry Gold, a write-in candidate for city council race who lost on Tuesday, noted that without a police force taking up a big portion of its budget, Sierra Madre could use some of its revenue to tackle much-needed infrastructure projects.

“I understand why people want to keep our police department. It is in character with our cherished small-town image,” Gold told this newspaper. “But we have to realize it is no longer possible. Yes it is sad, but sooner or later, we will need to contract with the sheriff’s. I just wish it would be sooner rather than later so that the savings can start being used to fix our streets, sidewalks and most importantly more of our water pipes.”

Mayor John Capoccia, who was re-elected to another term on the council Tuesday, said the city would have had to make deep budget cuts to city services on top of contracting with the Sheriff’s Department to fill the budget hole from the UUT.

“(The UUT measure passing) shows the community is doing what’s needed to take care of itself,” said Mayor John Capoccia, “We really appreciate the way our police department takes care of our community, and now we have the opportunity to continue that.”

Capoccia said he hoped that a renewed UUT would send a message to potential recruits to Sierra Madre’s police force.

“Our community stands strong and united about keeping Sierra Madre the great place that it is,” he said.

Claudia Palma has been covering the San Gabriel Valley and Pasadena area since 2005. She is a contributing editor and writer for the Pasadena Star-News' annual Rose Magazine featuring all things Rose Parade. A longtime San Gabriel Valley resident, she enjoys reading, music and almost anything sci-fi, whenever possible. Her days now are lovingly filled with her high school-sweetheart husband, two strong-willed girls (like their mama), and their cool baby boy. Hablamos español.